Mr. Holamon was born in Brownwood and passed away on April 12th at his home at the age of 66, after a short illness. He was living in Montevideo, Uruguay where he resided since 2008.
Philip was a former Brownwood High School band drum major and actor who graduated in 1964. Receiving his bachelor’s degree from Southwest Texas State University, he became an Army musician playing the oboe and clarinet with the 4th Army Band based at Fort Sam Houston. He was a playwright and also traveled with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus as a clown during 2000 performances in 48 states. His blue-faced clown was photographed in Life magazine and The New York Times and performed twice on CBS network television programs.
He taught English as a second language in San Antonio before joining the Dallas ISD at Woodrow Wilson High School in 1982 where he was an award-winning French teacher and director of one-act plays. Philip designed costumes and scenery for the one-act plays he directed at Woodrow from 1987 to 1995.
Mr. Holamon was a semifinalist for a Dallas Independent School District Golden Apple Award in 1988 and he received the district’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 1994.Philip retired in 1999 from teaching and moved to Costa Rica in 2001 then to Montevideo, Uruguay in December 2008.
He is survived by his sister, Jenny Holamon Nelson of Brownwood; a brother, Terry Holamon of Brownwood; a niece, Wendy Huggins of Brownwood; a nephew, Jason Studdard of Brownwood; and his beloved companion, Betty Mayes of Montevideo, Uruguay. Philip was succeeded in death by his parents, Ivin and Dorothy Holamon of Brownwood.
Memorials may be made to the Monty Holamon Memorial Fund at the Woodrow Wilson High School Community Foundation, P.O. Box 140062, Dallas Texas 75214.
